Laos is a small, landlocked economy in Southeast
Asia that’s often overlooked in favor of its neighbors: Thailand, China,
and even Cambodia. But there are a few important factors that set Laos
apart and lead me to believe that, when it comes to inflation, the
country is the canary in the coal mine.

First, Laos is one of the most sparsely populated
countries in Asia; with just 6.3 million people, its numbers pale in
comparison to regional neighbors such as Burma (50 million), Thailand
(67 million) and Bangladesh (162 million).

The other thing that’s important about Laos is that
the country is home to some of the most fertile soil in the world: more
than 20% of its land mass is ripe for agricultural use. This is an
astounding number, and it’s no wonder that agriculture makes up the
preponderance of the Laotian economy.